Lizard’s Tail

Management Options

Mechanical/Physical Control Options

Lizard’s-tail can be cut and the rhizomes can be dug up but physical control is difficult because it can reestablish from seeds and remaining rhizomes.

Biological Control Options

There is no known biological control for lizard’s-tail, although goats are known to forage on many types of emergent vegetation.

Chemical Control Options

The active ingredients that have been successful in treating lizard’s-tail include 2,4-D (G), diquat (G), and glyphosate (E). E = excellent, G = good

Navigate and Weedar 64 are 2,4-D compounds that have been effective on lizard’s-tail. 2,4-D compounds are systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action. Systemic herbicides tend to act more slowly than contact herbicides.

Reward is a liquid diquat formulation that has been effective on lizard’s-tail. It is a contact herbicide. Contact herbicides act quickly and kill all plants cells that they contact. A non-ionic aquatically registered surfactant (see the label) will have to be added to the Reward solution for good results.

Rodeo, Aquamaster, Eraser AQ, Touchdown Pro, and AquaNeat are liquid glyphosate formulations and have been effective on lizard’s-tail. These are broad spectrum, systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action. Systemic herbicides tend to act more slowly than contact herbicides. An aquatically registered surfactant (see the label) will have to be added to the glyphosate solution for good results.

One danger with any chemical control method is the chance of an oxygen depletion after the treatment caused by the decomposition of the dead plant material. Oxygen depletions can kill fish in the pond. If the pond is heavily infested with weeds it may be possible (depending on the herbicide chosen) to treat the pond in sections and let each section decompose for about two weeks before treating another section. Aeration, particularly at night, for several days after treatment may help control the oxygen depletion.